(6S)-17{40 -hydroxy-3{40 -oxospiro{8 oxirane-2,6{40 -{8 17{60 {9 pregn{8 4{9 ene{9 -21{40 -carboxylic acid {65 -lactone, the {66 {hu 1,4 {b analog, and intermediates

ABSTRACT

Preparation and the desoxycorticosterone acetate-blocking, antiestrogenic, and progestational properties of (6S)-17&#39;&#39;hydroxy-3&#39;&#39;-oxospiro(oxirane-2,6&#39;&#39;-(17 Alpha )pregn-(4)ene)-21&#39;&#39;carboxylic acid gamma lactone and the Delta 1,4 analog thereof are disclosed.

United States Patent [191 Nysted [451 Nov. 18, 1975 (6S)-17'-HYDROXY-3'- OXOSPIRO[OXIRANE-2,6'- [l7a]PREGN[4]ENE]-2l -CARBOXYLIC ACID 'y-LACTONE, THE A ANALOG, AND INTERMEDIATES [75] Inventor: Leonard N. Nysted, Highland Park,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: G. D. Searle & C0., Chicago, Ill.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,463,776 8/l969 Lester et al 260/239.57 3,499,891 3/l970 Colton et al. 260/239.57

Primary Examiner-Elbert L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John M. Brown [57] ABSTRACT Preparation and the desoxycorticosterone acetateblocking, antiestrogenic, and progestational properties of (6S l 7 '-hydroxy-3 -oxospiro[oxirane-2 ,6 [l7a]pregn-[4]ene]-2l -carboxylic acid ylactone and the A analog thereof are disclosed.

8 Claims, N0 Drawings (6S)- 1 7 -HYDROXY-3 -OXOSPIRO[OXIRANE-2,6

[l7a]PREGN[4]ENE]-2l -CARBOXYLIC ACID y-LACTONE, THE A ANALOG, AND

INTERMEDIATES This invention relates to (6S)-17'-hydroxy-3'- oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'-[17a]pregn[4]ene]-21'- carboxylic acid 'y-lactone, the A analog thereof, and intermediates thereto. More particularly, this invention provides new, useful, and unobvious chemical compounds of the formula v 'chapter 34 of volume ll of Evaluation of Drug Activities: Pharmacometrics by D. R. Laurence and A. L. Bacharach. Details of such testing are described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,422,096 and 3,622,631. By way of illustration, but not delimiting, the medium effective subcutaneous dose of the product of Example 1E hereinafter, in testing carried out substantially as described in the aforesaid patents, was found to be 0.19 mg.

The antiestrogenic utility of the instant compounds is evident from the results of a standardized test for this property carried out substantially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,420. Again by way of illustration only, the product of Example 1E hereinafter was found active at a total dose of 30 mcgm in such test.

The progestational utility of the instant compounds is evident from the results of a standardized test for this property carried out substantially as described in US. Pat. No. 3,539,558. Still further by way of illustration only, the product of Example 1E hereinafter was found to have a potency that of progesterone when so tested.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that observations of activity in standardized tests for particular biological effects are fundamental to the development of valuable new drugs, both veterinary and human.

Preparation of (6S)-17'-hydr0xy-3-oxospiro= [oxirane-2,6'-[ 17a]pregn[4]ene]-21 -carboxylic acid y-lactone and the A analog thereof can be effected by contacting 3B-acetyloxy-5a, l7-dihydroxy-6-oxo-17apregnane-21-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone (US. Pat. No.

3,012,029, Ex. 13) with the complex (US. Pat. No. 3,634,469, Ex. 2) formed in situ by heating activated zinc with dibromomethane in tetrahydrofuran under nitrogen, using aluminum isopropoxide to catalyze the complex formation; contacting the resultant 3,8- acetyloxy-Sa, l 7-dihydroxy-6-methylene-17apregnane-2l-carboxylic acid y-lactone with 3- chlorobenzeneperoxoic acid in dichloromethane, whereby (6R)-3B-acetyloxy-5 a, l 7 dihydroxyspiro[oxirane-2,6-[17a]= pregnane]-2l carboxylic acid 'y-lactone is obtained; saponifying the ester linkage therein by contacting it with sodium hydroxide in aqueous methanol and then acidifying with dilute acetic acid; selectively oxidizing the 33-01 in either (6 R)-3'B,5a, l7-trihydroxyspiro[oxirane-2,6'- [17a]pregnane]-21-carboxylic acid, the 'y-lactone thereof, or a mixture of the two thus obtained via contact in acetone with Jones reagent [prepared by dissolving 10 parts of chromic acid in 20 parts of water and consecutively adding 15 parts of concentrated sulfuric acid and 20 parts of water]; and heating the (6R)- 5 a, l 7 -dihydroxy-3 '-oxospiro oxirane-2,6 [17a]pregnane]-2l-carboxylic acid y-lactone which eventuates with activated magnesium silicate (Florisil) in benzene to induce A dehydrogenation. From (68)- 17 -hydroxy-3 -oxospiro oxirane-2,6 [17a]pregn[4]ene]-21'-carboxylic acid y-lactone, on heating with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone in benzene, (6S)-17-hydroxy-3'-oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'- [17a]pregna-l,4-diene] -21 '-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone is obtained.

Alternatively, (6R)-5 'a, l 7 '-dihydroxy-3 0x05- piro=[oxirane-2,6'-[ l7a]pregnane]-2 l -carboxylic acid y-lactone can be obtained by heating 3,8- acetyloxy-S a, l 7-dihydroxy-6-methylene- 1 7apregnane-Zl-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone with potassium bicarbonate in aqueous methanol to give 3B,5a,l7- tri=hydroxy-6-methylene-l7a-pregnane-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone, oxidizing the 33-01 therein with Jones reagent in acetone; and contacting the resultant 5a, 1 7- dihydroxy-G-methylene-3-oxo-l7a-pregnane-2lcarboxylic acid 'y-lactone with chlorobenzeneweroxoic acid in dichloromethane.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that hydroxy chain has the formula -cH,CH c0oM in which M represents hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal/2, ammonium, or lower alkyl. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the term alkaline earth metal/2 reflects the fact that such metals are divalent, whereas the other substituents represented by M are monovalent.

Equivalence also exists as between any of the compounds contemplated herein and a solvate thereof in which biologically insignificant solvent is present.

Salts of the hydroxy acids corresponding to the lactones herein described can be prepared by heating alcoholic solutions of the lactones with appropriate bases viz., lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or the like. The acids of the invention can be prepared by precipitating aqueous solutions of the salts with excess acid. As an exception to the foregoing salt preparations, the contemplated ammonium salts can be prepared by prolonged contact of the acids with saturated alcohol solutions of ammonia. The contemplated esters can be prepared by contacting the alkali salts with lower alkyl bromides in N,N-dimethylformamide containing excess potassium bicarbonate.

The following examples describe in detail compounds illustrative of the present invention and methods which have been devised for their preparation. it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, both of materials and of methods, may be practiced without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. Throughout the examples hereinafter set forth, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade and relative amounts of materials in parts by weight, except as otherwise noted.

EXAMPLE 1 A. To a mixture of 65 parts of powdered zinc and 145 parts of tetrahydrofuran at the boiling point under reflux in a nitrogen atmosphere is added, with stirring during 10 minutes, 35 parts of a 20% solution of hydrogen chloride in dioxane, followed after 20 minutes by parts of aluminum isopropoxide. Approximately 5 minutes later, introduction of 70 parts of dibromomethane is commenced, the rate being such as to require approximately 2% hours for completion. Heating at the boiling point under reflux with stirring is continued throughout this operation and for approximately 14 hours thereafter, at which point the temperature of the reaction mixture is lowered to l0 and 42 parts of 3fi-acetyloxy-5a,17-dihydroxy-6-oxo-17a-pregnane- ZI-carboxylic. acid y-lactone is stirred in during minutes. The reaction mixture is then warmed to room temperature during 1 hour and maintained thereat for a further 2 hours, stirring being continued throughout. At thispoint the temperature of the reaction mixture is again lowered, this time to around 5, at which temperature 100 parts of aqueous 50% acetic acid is added slowly so long as gas evolution continues and rapidly thereafter. The temperature of the reaction mixture rises toaround 28 during this operation. Insoluble solids are filtered out, and the filtrate is vigorously steam-distilled until the tacky solids which precipitate in the distilland become crystalline. The crystalline material is filtered from the hot distilland, washed with water, and sufficiently dried to be taken up in approximately 65 parts of dichloromethane. The dichloro=methane solution is filtered through diatomaceous earth, which is then washed with 140 parts of 2-propanone. washings and filtrate are combined and distilled while 175 parts of water is slowly added. Crystallization occurs. Distillation is continued for a short time thereafter, whereupon the crystals are filtered off, washed well with aqueous 50% acetone, and dried in vacuo at 60. The product thus isolated is 3B-acetyloxy-5a,l7- dihydroxy-6-methylene-l7a-pregnane-2l-carboxylic acid y-lactone.

B. To. a solution of 128 parts of 3B-acetyloxy-5a,l7- dihydroxy-6-methylene-17a-pregnane-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone in 875 parts of dichloromethane at 5 is added, with stirring, 77 parts of 3- chlorobenzeneperoxoic acid. Stirring is continued for 2 hours whilevthe temperature of the reaction mixture is allowed to rise to around Stirring is continued at this temperature for one-half hour, whereupon the temperature is again lowered to 5 and 65 parts of aqueous 30% sodium bisulfite thereupon introduced during 5 minutes, followed by 1450 parts of aqueous 20% potassium bicarbonate. Dichloromethane is then removed by vacuum distillation; and insoluble solids are separated from the distilland by filtration, consecutively washed with aqueous 20% potassium bicarbonate and water, and dried in vacuo at around The product thus isolated is (6R)-3B-acetyloxy-5 '01,] 7 dihydroxyspiro[oxirane-2,6-[17a]pregnane]-21- carboxylic acid 'y-lactone. The product has the formula C. To a mixture of 117 parts of (6R)-3'B-acetyloxy- 5a,l 7 '-dihydroxyspiro[oxirane-2,6'- [17a]=pregnane]-2l-carboxylic acid y-lactone. and 325 parts of methanol at --5 is added, with stirring, a mixture of 66 parts of aqueous sodium hydroxide and parts of methanol. Stirring is continued while the reaction mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and for 2 hours thereafter, at which point methanol is removed by distillation in vacuo at around 40. The crystalline residue is taken up in 1000 parts of water. The resultant solution is neutralized by slowly adding 36 parts of glacial acetic acid. The solid which precipitates is isolated by filtration, washed with water, and dried in vacuo at 60. This material is a mixture of (6R)-3'B,5a,17- trihy- =oxyspiro[oxirane-2,6'-[17a]pregnane]-2l carboxylic acid and the y lactone thereof, which is separable by chromatographic adsorption on silica gel and the use of benzene and mixtures thereof with increasing amounts of ethyl acetate as developing solvents.

D. To a rapidly-stirred suspension of 103 parts of a mixture of (6R)-3'B,5'a,17'- trihydroxyspiro=[ oxirane-2,6 '-[1 7a]pregnane]-21 carboxylic acid and the 'y-lactone thereof in 660 parts of 2- propanone at l0 is added, during 45 minutes, 170 parts of Jones reagent. The reaction mixture is warmed to 0 and maintained thereat for 45 minutes, whereupon parts of 2-propanol is introduced, followed 15 minutes later by 1600 parts of water-stirring being continuous throughout. Insoluble solids which precipitate are filtered off; consecutively washed with water, aqueous 5% potassiumbicarbonate, and water; and dried in vacuo at 45. The product thus isolated is (6R)- 5'a,l 7 '-dihydroxy-3-oxospiro[oxirane-2,6- [l7a]=pregnane]-2l-carboxylic acid y-lactone.

E. A suspension of 250 parts of activated magnesium silicate (Florisil) in approximately 725 parts of benzene is stirred and distilled until anhydrous, whereupon 50 parts of (6R )-5 'a, l 7 '-dihydroxy-3- oxospiro=[oxirane-2,6-[ l7oz1pregnane1-2l '-carboxylic 5 acid 'y-lactone is added; and the resultant mixture is heated at the boiling point under reflux with stirring for 3 /2 hours. At that point, the reaction mixture is cooled to around 35, at which temperature approximately 675 parts of dichloromethane is stirred in. Stirring is 10 continued for a further minutes, whereupon insoluble solids are filtered out and washed with dichloromethane. washings and filtrate are combined and stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The residue is crystallized from a mixture of dichloromethane, 2- 15 propanone, and water by the procedure described in Example 1A. The colorless solid thus obtained is (68)- l7'-hydr0xy-3-oxospiro[oxirane-2,6- I [l7a]pregn[4]ene]-21'-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone melting at 280"285. The product has the formula 2 EXAMPLE 2 A solution of 2 parts of (6S)-l7'-hydroxy-3'- oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'-[17a]pregn[4]ene]-2lcarboxylic acid 'y-lactone and 3 parts of 2,3-dichloro- 5,6-dicyano=benzoquinone in 90 parts of benzene is heated at the boiling point under reflux in a nitrogen atmosphere for 48 hours, then filtered. The filtrate is first washed with aqueous 10% sodium bisulfite and thereafter with just sufficient aqueous 10% potassium bicarbonate containing a trace of sodium hydroxide to induce a color change from intense to pale yellow, whereupon it is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and finally stripped of solvent by vacuum distillation. The residue is crystallized from a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol to give (6S)-l7'-hydroxy-3'- oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'- [l7a]pregna[1,4]=diene]-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lac- EXAMPLE 3 concentrated hydrochloric acid. is added to the methanol solution, followed b'y'ju st sufficient water to induce turbidity. On standing, chilled, 3B,5a,l7-trihydroxy-6- methylene-l7a-pregnane-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone monohydrate precipitates. The product is isolated by filtration and dried in vacuo. Water of crystallization can be removed by vacu grn drying at elevated temperatures. B. Substitution of 103 parts of 3B,5a,l7-trihydroxy- 6-methylene-l7a-pregnane 2l-carboxylic acid y-lactone for the (6S )-3B,5a,l7-trihydroxyspiro[oxirane- 2,6'-[17oz]pregnane]-2l'-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone called for in Example 1D affords, by-the procedure there detailed, 5a,1 7-dihydroxy-6-rnethylene-3-oxo- 17a-pregnane-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone.

C, Substitution. of h 112 parts of =droxy 6-rnethylene-3-oxo-l7a-pregnane-21- carboxylic acid. y-lactone for the 3l3-acetyloxy-5a,l7'-

dihydroxy-6 methylene-17o pregnane-2l-carb oxylic acid y-lactone called forin Example lB affords, by the procedure ther'e' detailed, (6R )5a,l.7i-dihydroxy-3- oxospiro{oxirane-2,6 l 7'oz]"=pregnane ]-2 1 '-carboxylic acid y-lactone.

EXAMPLE 4 A mixture of 37 parts of (6S)-l7-hydro) y-3- carboxylic acid 'y-lactone, parts of aqueous 4% sodium hydroxide, 950 parts of water, and 160 parts of 2-propanol is stirred and heated at around 60 for 3 hours, whereupon the mixture is concentrated to approximately one-tenth its original volume by vacuum distillation. Sufficient 2-propanone is then added to induce the separation of a gel, which is isolated by filtration, washed with acetone, and dried in vacuo at The product thus isolated is sodium (6S)-l7'-hydroxy- 3'-oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'-[ l7a]pregn[4]ene 1-21 carboxylate monohydrate.

What is claimed is:

l. A compound of the formula wherein the endocyclic dotted line denotes optional A unsaturation.

2. A compound according to claim 1 which is (68 3. A compound according to claim 1 which is (68)- 17 '-hydroxy-3-oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'- [l7a]pregna=[1,4]diene1-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone.

v 4, A compound of the formula I I HO CH2 Ho f wherein Z represents B-(acetyloxy)methylene, B-hywherein Z represents B-(acetyloxy)methylene, B-hydroxy=methylenc, or carbonyl.

droxy=methylene or carbonyl. 7. A compound according to claim 6 which is 33,501,-

5. A compound according to claim 4 which is (6R)- l7-trihydroxy-6-methylene-l7a-pregnane-2l- 5'a,l7-dihydroxy-3-oxospiro[oxirane-2,6'- carboxylic acid 'y-lactone.

[l7a]=pregnane]-2l-carboxylic acid 'y-lactone. 8. A compound according to claim 6 which is 501,17-

6. A compound of the formula dihydroxy-6-methylene-3-oxo-l7a-pregnane-2lcarboxylic acid 'y-lactone.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,920,635 DATED Nov. 18 1975 INVENTOR(S) Leonard N. Nysted It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Abstract, line 5, lactone should read y-lactone Column 4, line #3, "trihy" should read trihydro Column 6, line 17, "=droxy" should read dihydroxy Signed and Sealed this thirteenth Day of April1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mmnissiunvr nflareills and .Tratlenmrks 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA
 2. A compound according to claim 1 which is (6S)-17''-hydroxy-3''-oxospiro(oxirane-2,6''-(17 Alpha )pregn(4) ene)-21''-carboxylic acid gamma -lactone.
 3. A compound according to claim 1 which is (6S)-17''-hydroxy-3''-oxospiro(oxirane-2,6''-(17 Alpha )pregna (1,4)diene)-21''-carboxylic acid gamma -lactone.
 4. A compound of the formula
 5. A compound according to claim 4 which is (6R)-5'' Alpha ,17''-dihydroxy-3''-oxospiro(oxirane-2,6''-(17 Alpha ) pregnane)-21''-carboxylic acid gamma -lactone.
 6. A compound of the formula
 7. A compound according to claim 6 which is 3 Beta ,5 Alpha ,17-trihydroxy-6-methylene-17 Alpha -pregnane-21-carboxylic acid gamma -lactone.
 8. A compound according to claim 6 which is 5 Alpha ,17-dihydroxy-6-methylene-3-oxo-17 Alpha -pregnane-21-carboxylic acid gamma -lactone. 